Temporary detour for Martin Luther King Drive

The 15th Street Bridge in Allentown is being demolished, necessitating… (APRIL BARTHOLOMEW, THE…)

November 02, 2012

The traffic detour of Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in Allentown, mostly during nighttime hours and postponed from last week, has begun and will extend to Saturday night and into Sunday morning, according to city officials.

Motorists will not be able to pass beneath the 15th Street Bridge, which is being replaced, because debris from the demolition of the existing bridge could fall onto King Drive. No explosives will be used in the demolition. The 55-year-old bridge is being removed primarily through the use of a crane and power tools, officials said.

The detours will be in effect from 7 p.m. Thursday through 6 a.m. Friday; 7 p.m. Friday through 6 a.m. Saturday; and 7 p.m. Saturday through 9 a.m. Sunday.

The recommended temporary detour routes during the demolition are, for eastbound Martin Luther King Jr. Drive traffic, north on S. 15th Street, west on South Street, north on S. 17th Street, east on Elm Street and south on S. Franklin Street back to King Drive. For westbound vehicles, north on S. Franklin, west on Elm and south on S. 15th back to Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. (The portion of S. 15th on the detour route is the extension to the right at the YM/YWCA that connects to Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. The mainline of 15th Street becomes Ward Street on the south side of the bridge.)

The bridge was closed to all traffic Aug. 6, prompting 24-hour detours on 15th Street that allow motorists to use Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. These "regular" detours for the project will remain in effect during and after the demolition.